Former federal housing agency director Mel Watt, who represented Charlotte in the U.S. Congress for more than two decades, misused his position to pursue a relationship with a woman working for him, according to a formal inquiry by the agency’s Inspector General. Watt was head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which currently oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, from 2014 through January when his five-year term expired. Simone Grimes, a special adviser at the agency, claimed that the 73-year-old Watt sexually harassed her and did not promote her when she declined his advances. Grimes also filed a pay discrimination...

For the first time ever, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has more than 20,000 immigrant students who need help learning English. The 21,145 English learners in CMS are by far the largest concentration in North Carolina. Wake County, the state’s biggest district, has only 14,540, and most of the state’s districts don’t even have 20,000 students. The growing numbers come with costs: CMS is spending more than $30 million this year on the department that serves those students, compared with just over $20 million five years ago. In June Mecklenburg County commissioners approved $1.4 million to add 20 teachers who specialize in English...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — There are growing concerns over a potential dark side to the NBA All-Star weekend in Charlotte. We're talking about human trafficking, and the numbers are already staggering. Charlotte ranks eighth-highest in the nation for reported human trafficking cases. In 2017, North Carolina had 221 reported cases of trafficking, while South Carolina saw 118 reported cases. Officials say both the NBA All-Star Game and CIAA basketball tournaments are large-scale sporting events that could be magnets for human traffickers, with police out in full force and on high alert. "Anybody can be a human trafficker, anybody can be a...

Hundreds of immigrants in the U.S. illegally were arrested this week in North Carolina after some local law agencies stopped cooperating with immigration enforcement, a federal official said Friday. Immigration and Customs Enforcement regional director Sean Gallagher said the arrests resulted from what he termed “the dangerous policies of not cooperating with ICE,” The Charlotte Observer reported. […] ICE officers have detained 200 people in North Carolina this week. Another 25 were detained at an arms manufacturer in Sanford. Gallagher said more such arrests are likely when ICE is restricted from accessing county jails. …

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Friday is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day and one survivor in Charlotte is sharing her story to help spread awareness. Joy Anderson spends a lot of time behind a microphone and a piano. “My voice was taken away for a long time, you know what I mean? So, I want to use my voice to sing about what God has done,” said Anderson. Anderson was adopted and raised in South Carolina. “My upbringing was really, really good,” said Anderson. However, when she was just 17 years old, a chance encounter in a club would lead her...

A man tries to kidnap a woman by forcing her into his car, in north Charlotte. She breaks free, and runs into a nearby karate studio pleading for help. You can already see how this ends: with the suspect being carried out on a stretcher after a fight with a karate head instructor. The incident happened at 9 pm Thursday outside Bushiken Karate Charlotte Dojo, according to CNN affiliate WSOC and the head instructor, Randall Ephraim.

When someone says squirrels you'd think of those small size rodent-like creatures with their bushy tails. Jumping and running across from trees to trees, squirrels make for cute creatures hunting for their nuts more often. But residents in North Carolina can spot some oddity in and around Robeson County. Going by the recent pictures posted by state wildlife officials there are 2-foot tall squirrels in the area. Baby Squirrel Taken into Police Custody After Chasing a Man in Germany.

President Donald Trump denounced the media on Friday for trying to pin the recent bomb scare on him and his supporters. “We have seen an effort by the media in recent hours to use the sinister actions of one individual to score political points against me and the Republican party,” Trump said. The president commented on the news at his rally in Charlotte, North Carolina after authorities apprehended the Florida man suspected of sending pipe bombs to prominent Democrats. Trump condemned political violence and called for an end to the politics of personal destruction, especially from the media. “Political violence...

Early voting nearly turned violent in Charlotte on Wednesday, when a Republican volunteer was confronted by a man who showed a gun at a Mecklenburg County polling place, police said. Derek Partee, who is black, said three white people angrily approached him at the Steele Creek polling place, which is southwest of Charlotte near Carowinds. Partee posted photos of the three on Facebook, including a photo in which one heavily tattooed man can be seen openly carrying a pistol in a hip holster. Partee said he called the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and filed a report. In a news release late...

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV Web Staff) - President Donald Trump is coming to Charlotte next week to campaign for Mark Harris. He plans to visit Friday, October 26. Trump visited for whirlwind trip in August to raise money for Republicans Mark Harris of the 9th District and Rep. Ted Budd of the 13th. [ Whirlwind trip to Charlotte puts Trump in the middle of 2 competitive NC races ] Trump is expected to rally at 7 p.m. at Bojangles Coliseum, located at 2700 E. Independence Boulevard. Doors will open at 4 p.m. Those interested can register for tickets here.Both Budd and...

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s elections board sent to prosecutors Wednesday the case of a state House member whom investigators allege failed to report over $140,000 in campaign contributions expenditures over several years. The elections panel voted unanimously to send their findings involving Democratic Rep. Rodney Moore of Charlotte and his campaign to the Mecklenburg County district attorney for possible charges. The board decided there is “clear and convincing evidence” that false campaign reports were signed while treated under oath as complete and correct, as well as that unlawful spending of campaign contributions occurred.

North Carolina officials are trying to figure out how to unwind parts or all of a 2014 public-private partnership that is building managed toll lanes on a Charlotte-area highway.Ever since the ink dried on North Carolina’s first transportation P3 contract, the plan to relieve severe congestion in the Charlotte region has generated controversy.Public opposition remains just as fierce today to the project that will add express lanes on Interstate 77, even though more than one report says the deal with I-77 Mobility Partners LLC, a consortium led by Cintra Infraestructuras S.A., was properly authorized and permitted.The 26-mile-long project is designed...

Carolina Panthers safety Eric Reid took a knee during the national anthem before Sunday’s game against the New York Giants in Charlotte, North Carolina. Reid was the only player to kneel during the “Star Spangled Banner,” continuing the protest he began while playing for the San Francisco 49ers. He was the first Panthers player ever to kneel during the national anthem. Sunday also marked Reid’s return to the NFL after signing with the Panthers on Sept. 27. He and Kaepernick filed a grievance against the league alleging teams colluded against signing him during free agency because of the kneeling controversy....

A woman and two men were charged after the mayor of a small North Carolina town and his wife were found murdered in their home, police said. Dakeithia Nesha Andrews, 30, was the third person arrested in connection with the deaths of Leggett Mayor Gary Skelton and his wife, Jackie Skelton, The Charlotte Observer reported. The Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office said Saturday that Andrews was charged with conspiracy robbery with a dangerous weapon and is being held on $100,000 bond. Keith Earl Williams, 25, and Mitchell Brinson, 18, were charged with first-degree murder on Friday.

About Marine Week Join the United States Marine Corps in Uptown Charlotte this September for a celebration of Community, Country and Corps. From Sept. 5 – 9, Marine Week Charlotte will feature hands-on displays, live demonstrations, time-honored Marine Corps traditions, musical performances and other events to showcase the history, military capabilities and community involvement of the Corps.

AUSTIN, Texas - Charlotte City Council Member-at-Large James Mitchell raised his fist in the air, and then hugged Councilman Ed Driggs. The crowd rose to its feet. The Republican National Committee, on Friday, officially named Charlotte as the host city for the 2020 Republican National Convention.

As Americans fought in recent weeks over whether restaurants should refuse to serve top aides to President Trump, an entire city has been debating what it means to host his convention for reelection. Charlotte won the rights to the 2020 Republican National Convention on Friday. But that's largely because it faced little serious competition. And even before the victory was announced in Austin, Texas, this thriving, progressive urban island in the Trump-friendly South was suffering some buyer's remorse. Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, a Democrat, says the decision to host the convention was the hardest she has tackled — "not just...